List of Common Chinese Surnames - Greater China Region - China, Hong Kong and Macau

China, Hong Kong and Macau

This list of the top 100 most common Chinese surnames derives from comprehensive surveys from 2007 and 1982. The first is derived from a report on the household registrations released by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security on April 24, 2007. The second is derived from the 1982 Chinese census whose zero hour was 00:00 on 1 July 1982. Although no list of surnames was published with the initial summaries, the State Post Bureau subsequently used the census data to release a series of commemorative stamps in honor of the then-most-common surnames in 2004. Previous partial surveys proved less accurate, as many surnames are clustered regionally.

The summary of the 2007 survey revealed China had approximately 92,881,000 Wangs (7.25% of the general population), 92,074,000 Lis (7.19%), and 87,502,000 Zhangs (6.83%). These top three surnames alone accounted for more people than Indonesia, the fourth-largest country in the world. Detailed numbers for the other surnames were not released, but it was noted that seven others – Liu, Chen, Yang, Huang, Zhao, Wu, and Zhou – were each shared by more than 20 million Chinese and twelve more – Xu, Sun, Ma, Zhu, Hu, Guo, He, Gao, Lin, Luo, Zheng, and Liang – were each shared by more than 10 million. All together, the top hundred surnames accounted for 84.77% of China's population. By way of comparison, the 2000 census found the most common surname in the United States – Smith – had fewer than 2.4 million occurrences and made up only 0.84% of the general population. The top 100 surnames accounted for only 16.4% of the US population, and reaching 89.8% of the US population required more than 150,000 surnames.

Rank Character Romanizations Notes
Mandarin Cantonese Minnan Gan Other Former Pronunciation Meaning
Pinyin Wade Jyutping HK Other POJ Other
1 2 王 Wáng Wang2 Wong4 Wong Vong Ông Heng Uōng Vương *ɢʷaŋ Hjwang "King"
Wang (왕)
Ō
2 1 李 Lǐ Li3 Lei5 Lee
Li		 Le Lí Lee
Lie
Dee		 Lî Lý *C.rəʔ LiX "Plum"
Lee (리)
Yi, Ri, Rhee (이)
Ri
Dy, Sy
Ley
3 3 張 张 Zhāng Chang1 Zoeng1 Cheung Cheong
Chong		 Tiu Teo, Teoh
Tio, Thio
Tiew		 Chong
Tong		 Trương *C.traŋ Trjang "Bowyer"
Jang (장)
Chō
Tiong
Sutiono, Tjong
4 4 劉 刘 Liú Liu2 Lau4 Lau Lao
Lou		 Lâu Low
Lao, Lauw		 Līu Lưu *Mə-ru Ljuw N/A
Yu/Ryu (유/류)
Ryū
5 5 陳 陈 Chén Ch'en2 Can4 Chan Chun
Chean
Chin		 Tân Ting Chhín
Thín		 Trần, Chein *Lrin Drin Duchy
of
Chen
Jin (진)
Chin
6 6 楊 杨 Yáng Yang2 Joeng4 Yeung Yeong
Ieong
Young		 Iû Yeo, Yeoh
Yong
Yo, Joe
Eaw		 Iōng Dương, Huan *laŋ Yang "Poplar"

State
of
Yang
Yang (양)
Yō
7 8 黃 黄 Huáng Huang2 Wong4 Wong Wang
Vong		 Ng Eng, Ung
Bong
Wee, Oei
Ooi, Uy		 Uōng Huỳnh *N-kʷˤaŋ Hwang "Yellow"

March
of
Huang
Hwang (황)
Kō
8 7 趙 赵 Zhào Chao2 Ziu6 Chiu Chio
Jiu		 Tiō Teo, Teoh
Chew, Chu		 Chhèu
Thèu		 Triệu Kingdom
of
Zhao
Jo (조)
Chō
9 10 吳 吴 Wú Wu2 Ng4 Ng Ung, Eng Gô·, Ngô· Goh, Gouw Ngô *ŋʷˤa Ngu Kingdom
of
Wu
Oh (오)
Kure, Go
Woo
10 9 周 Zhōu Chou1 Zau1 Chow Jao
Chau		 Chiu Chew, Jew
Chiew		 Tiu Chu, Châu *tiw Tsyuw Kingdom
of
Zhou
Ju (주)
Shū
Joe
11 11 徐 Xú Hsü2 Ceoi4 Tsui Choi
Chui
Tsua		 Chhî Chee
Swee
Shui
Djie, Tjhie		 Chhí
Thí		 Từ *sə.la Zjo Kingdom
of
Xu
Seo (서)
Jo
Dharmadjie
Christiadjie
12 12 孫 孙 Sūn Sun1 Syun1 Suen Sun Sun
Soon		 Sng Sun
Thun		 Tôn *sˤun Swon "Grandson"
Son (손)
Son
Suan
13 19 馬 马 Mǎ Ma3 Maa5 Ma Mah
Mar		 Má
Bé		 Baey Má Mã *mˤraʔ MaeX "horse"

State
of
Mafu
Ma (마)
Ba
14 14 朱 Zhū Chu1 Zyu1 Chu Chue Chee Choo Chu
Tu		 Châu *to Tsyu Duchy
of
Zhu
Ju (주)
Shu
Gee
Ju
15 13 胡 Hú Hu2 Wu4 Wu Woo
Vu		 Hoo
Ô·
Aw, Auw		 Oon Ū
Fū		 Hồ *gˤa Hu "mustache"
"beard"

barbarian
tribes
Ho (호)
Ko
16 18 郭 Guō Kuo1 Gwok3 Kwok Kuok Koeh Koay, Quay
Kwik
Kwek, Kwee, Quek		 Kuok
Kok		 Quách *kʷˤak Kwak "city wall"
Gwak (곽)
Kaku
Ker, Kho, Kwok
17 17 何 Hé Hê2
Ho2		 Ho4 Ho Hô Hoe Hoh Hó Hà *gˤaj Ha Kingdom
of
Han
Ha (하)
Ka
18 15 高 Gāo Kao1 Gou1 Ko Kou
Go		 Koh Kau Cao *Cə.kˤaw Kaw "High"
Go (고)
Kō
19 16 林 Lín Lin2 Lam4 Lam Lum Lîm Liem Līm Lâm *k.rəm Lim "Forest"
Lim/Im/Rim
(임/림)
Hayashi, Rin
20 20 羅 罗 Luó Lo2 Lo4 Lo Law
Loh, Lowe
Lor		 Lô Lō La *rˤaj La N/A
Na/La/Ra
(나/라)
Ra
21 23 鄭 郑 Zhèng Cheng4 Zeng6 Cheng Cheang
Chiang		 Tē
Tī		 Chung
Tay, Tey
Teh
The, They
Teay		 Chhìn
Thìn		 Trịnh Duchy
of
Zheng
Jeong (정)
Tei
Ching
22 21 梁 Liáng Liang2 Loeng4 Leung Leong
Lang
Leng		 Niû Neo, Nio
New
Njoo		 Liōng Lương *raŋ Ljang County
of
Liang
Yang/Ryang (양/량)
Ryō
23 24 謝 谢 Xiè Hsieh4 Ze6 Tse Che Chiā
Siā		 Cheah, Chay
Tjhia, Tjia
Seah, Shea		 Sià
Chhià
Hà		 Tạ *sə-lak-s ZjaeH "thanks"

State
of
Xie
Sa (사)
Sha
Tsia
Saa, Sese, Sia
Shieh
24 22 宋 Sòng Sung4 Sung3 Sung Sòng Sūng
Thūng		 Tống Duchy
of
Song
Song (송)
Sō
Soong
25 26 唐 Táng T'ang2 Tong4 Tong Tn̂g Tng Thóng Đường *N-rˤaŋ Dang Kingdom
of
Tang
Dang (당)
Tō
26 35 許 许 Xǔ Hsü3 Heoi2 Hui
Hooi		 Hoi Khó· Koh, Co
Khor
Khaw
Khouw		 Hí, Hé Hứa *qʰaʔ XjoX State
of
Xǔ
Heo (허)
Kyo
27 25 韓 韩 Hán Han2 Hon4 Hon Hân Han Hón Hàn *gˤar Han Kingdom
of
Han
Han (한)
Kan
Hang
28 27 馮 冯 Féng Feng2 Fung4 Fung Fong Pâng Pang
Phang
Fong		 Fūng Phùng *Cə.bəŋ Bjuwng State
of
Feng
Pung (풍)
Fū
29 34 鄧 邓 Dèng Teng2 Dang6 Tang Theng Dung Tēng Thèn Đặng March
of
Deng
Deung (등)
Tō
Deang
30 32 曹 Cáo Ts'ao2 Cou4 Tso Chaw Chou4 Chô Chháu
Tháu		 Tào *N-tsˤu Dzaw Duchy
of
Cao
Jo (조)
Sō
31 39 彭 Péng P'eng2 Paang4 Pang Phê
Phî		 Pháng Bành *C.bˤraŋ Baeng
Paeng (팽)
Hō
Pay
32 38 曾 Zēng Tseng1 Zang1 Tsang Chang
Dong		 Chan Chin
Tin		 Tăng
Tang		 *tsˤəŋ Tsong
Jeung (증)
Sō
Tjan
Tzeng
33 30 蕭 肖
(萧)		 Xiāo Hsiao1 Siu1 Siu Sio Siau
Siao		 Siow Seow Sieu
Thieu
Tiêu		 *sˤiw Sew
So (소)
Shō
34 58 田 Tián T'ien2 Tin4 Tin Chan Tiân Thién Điền *lˤiŋ Den
Jeon (밭)
Den
35 29 董 Dǒng Tung3 Dung2 Tung Tong Táng Tûng Đổng
Dong (동)
Tō
36 33 袁 Yuán Yüan2 Jyun4 Yuen Wan Un4 Oân Iōn
Iēn		 Nguyen
Viên		 *ɢʷan Hjwon
Won (원)
En
Yan
37 52 潘 Pān P'an1 Pun1 Poon Pun Phoa Phua Phon Phan
Ban (반)
Han
38 28 于 Yú Yü2 Jyu1 Yue U Î
Û		 Ī Vu *ɢʷa Hju
U (우)
U
39 43 蔣 蒋 Jiǎng Chiang3 Zoeng2 Tseung Cheung Chung
Cheong4
Chiang		 Chiú Chiông
Tiông		 Tưởng
Jang (장)
Shō
40 44 蔡 Cài Ts'ai4 Coi3 Choi Choy
Tsoi
Toy		 Chhoà Chua
Choa
Tjoa		 Chhói
Thói		 Thái
Sái		 *s.r̥ˤat-s TshajH
Chae (채)
Sai
Chai
Tsay
41 51 余 Yú Yü2 Jyu4 Yu
Yue		 U
Yee		 Î
Û		 Ee Ī Dư *la Yo
Yeo (여)
Yo
Eu, Ya, Oe
42 53 杜 Dù Tu4 Dou6 To Do
Tou		 Tō· Toh Thù Đỗ
Du (두)
To
43 49 葉 叶 Yè Yeh4 Jip6 Yip Ip
Yeap		 Ia̍p Yap Iep Diệp *lap Yep
Seob/Yeop
(섭/엽)
Yō
Yee, Ee
44 31 程 Chéng Ch'eng2 Cing4 Ching Cheng Thiâ Chháng
Tháng		 Trình *C.lreŋ Drjeng
Jeong (정)
Tei
45 41 蘇 苏 Sū Su1 Sou1 So Sou Soh Souw Su
Thu		 Tô *s.ŋˤa Su
So (소)
So
Soo
46 47 魏 Wèi Wei4 Ngai6 Ngai Gūi Wee Ngùi Nguỵ
Ngụy		 *N-qʰuj Ngjw+j
Wi (위)
Gi
47 40 呂 吕 Lǚ Lü3 Leoi5 Lui Loi Loy Lū
Lī
Lee
Loe		 Lî Lữ
Lã		 *raʔ LjoX
Yeo/Ryeo
(여/려)
Ryo
48 46 丁 Dīng Ting1 Ding1 Ting Ding
Teng4		 Teng Tiang Đinh *tˤeŋ Teng
Jeong (정)
Tei
49 59 任 Rèn Jen4 Jam6 Yam Iam
Yum		 Jîm Nìm Nhiệm
Nhậm		 *nəm-s NyimH
Im (임)
Jin
50 37 沈 Shěn Shen3 Sam2 Sum Sam
Shum		 Sím Shim Sím
Thím		 Thẩm
Trầm		 *l̥əmʔ SyimX
Shim (심)
Shin
51 64 姚 Yáo Yao2 Jiu4 Yiu Yeow
Io
Iu		 Yow Iâu Iēu Diêu
Yo (요)
Yō
52 42 盧 卢 Lú Lu2 Lou4 Lo Lou Lô· Loh
Loo		 Lū Lư
Lô
No/Ro
(노/로)
Ryo
53 60 姜 Jiāng Chiang1 Goeng1 Keung Geung
Keong		 Kiang
Kiu		 Kiong Khương *C.qaŋ Kjang
Kang (강)
Kyō
54 74 崔 Cuī Ts'ui1 Ceoi1 Chui Choi Chui
Sam		 Chhoi
Thoi		 Thôi *dzˤuj Dzwoj
Choi (최)
Sai
Tseui
55 56 鍾 钟 Zhōng Chung1 Zung1 Chung Chong Chiong
Cheng		 Chung
Tung		 Chung
Jong (종)
Shō
56 65 譚 谭 Tán T'an2 Taam4 Tam Tom
Ham
Hom		 Thâm Tham Thóm Đàm
Dam (담)
Tan
57 70 陸 陆 Lù Lu4 Luk6 Luk Lok Lio̍k Loke Liuk Lục *ruk Ljuwk
Yuk/Ryuk
(육/륙)
Riku
58 57 汪 Wāng Wang1 Wong1 Wong Ong
Ang		 Uong Uông *qʷˤaŋ 'Wang
Wang (왕)
Ō
59 61 范 Fàn Fan4 Faan6 Fan Hum Hoān
Huan
Wan		 Fàn Phạm *bomʔ BjomX
Beom (범)
Han
60 69 金 Jīn Chin1 Gam1 Kam Gum Kim Kim Kim *kəm Kim
Kim (김)
Kin
61 63 石 Shí Shih2 Sek6 Sek
Shek		 Seac
Seak		 Chioh Chew Sak
Thak		 Thạch *dak Dzyek
Dol (돌)
Seki
62 66 廖 Liào Liao4 Liu6 Liu Lew
Leow
Liew
Lio		 Liow Liāu
Liauw
Liaw
Liow		 Lièu Liêu
Liệu
Ryo (료)
Ryō
63 45 賈 贾 Jiǎ Chia3 Gaa2 Ga Ká Ká Giả *C.qˤaʔ-s KaeH
Ga (가)

Go (고)
Ka
64 55 夏 Xià Hsia2 Haa6 Ha Hā Hah Hà Hạ
Ha (하)
Ka
65 韋 韦 Wéi Wei2 Wai4 Wai Vai Uī Vi
Wi (위)
I
66 36 傅 付
(傅)		 Fù Fu4 Fu6 Fu
Foo		 Po, Poh
Pha		 Fù Phó *pa-s PjuH
Bu (부)
Fu
67 62 方 Fāng Fang1 Fong1 Fong Png
Hong		 Fong Phương *C.paŋ Pjang
Bang (방)
Hō
Pō
68 73 白 Bái Pai2 Baak6 Pak Pe̍h
Pe̍k		 Peh Phak Bạch *bˤrak Baek
Baek (백)
Haku
Bo, Po
69 67 鄒 邹 Zōu Tsou1 Zau1 Chow Jao
Chau		 Cho· Chiu
Tiu		 Trâu
Chu (추)
Sū
70 84 孟 Mèng Meng4 Maang6 Mang Bēng Mèn Mạnh *mˤraŋ-s MaengH
Maeng (맹)

Mang (망)
Mō
71 68 熊 Xióng Hsiung2 Hung4 Hung Hong Hiōng Hùng
Ung (웅)
Yū
72 78 秦 Qín Ch'in2 Ceon4 Tseun
Tseon
Chun		 Chon Chîn Chhín
Thín		 Tần *dzin Dzin
Jin (진)
Shin
73 77 邱 Qiū1 Ch'iu1 Jau1 Yau Iao
Iau		 Khu
Cu		 Khoo
Koo		 Khiu Khưu
Koo (구)
Kyū
Hew, Hiew
Chiew
Chiou
74 79 江 Jiāng Chiang1 Gong1 Kong Kang Kong Giang *kˤroŋ Kaewng
Gang (강)
Kō
Kiang
75 91 尹 Yǐn Yin3 Wan5 Wan Ín Doãn *m-qurʔ YwinX
Yun (윤)
In
76 48 薛 Xuē Hsüeh1 Sit3 Sit Seet Sih Siot
Siet
Thiet		 Tiết
Seol (설)
Setsu
77 50 閻 闫
(阎)		 Yán Yen2 Jim4 Yim Im Giâm Iēm Diêm
Yeom (염)
En
78 87 段 Duàn Tuan4 Dyun6 Tuen Tun Tōa
Tōan
Tn̂g
Then̄g		 Thòn Đoàn
Dan (단)
Dan
79 88 雷 Léi Lei2 Leoi4 Lui Loi Lūi Lôi *C.rˤuj Lwoj "Thunder"
Roe (뢰)
Noe (뇌)
Rai
Louie, Louis
80 82 侯 Hóu Hou2 Hau4 Hau Hao Hâu
Jao		 Héu Hầu
Hu
(후, 혜)
Kō
81 85 龍 龙 Lóng Lung2 Lung4 Lung
Loong		 Long Lêng Lūng Long
Yong/Ryong
(용/룡)

Rong (롱)

Nong (농)

Bang (방)
Ryū
82 80 史 Shǐ Shih3 Si2 Sze Si See
Seet
Sú		 Sí
Thí		 Sử
Sa (사)
Shi
83 陶 Táo T'ao2 Tou4 Tou Tow Tô Tháu Đào
Do (도)
Tō
84 93 黎 Lí Li2 Lai4 Lai Lê Loy Lī Lê
Yeo/Ryeo
(여/려)
Rei
85 97 賀 贺 Hè Hê4
Ho4		 Ho6 Ho Hō Hò Hạ
Ha (하)
Ga
86 81 顧 顾 Gù Ku4 Gu3 Gu Goo
Ku		 Kò· Kū Cố
Go (고)
Ko
87 76 毛 Máo Mao2 Mou4 Mo Mou Mô· Māu Mao
Mo (털)
Mō
88 71 郝 Hǎo Hao3 Kok3 Kok Hok Hác
Hak (학)
Kaku
89 99 龔 龚 Gōng Kung1 Gung2 Kung Kwong Kong4 Kióng Kung Cung
Gong (공)
Kyū
90 83 邵 Shào Shao4 Siu6 Shiu Shaw
Sio		 Siō Sèu
Thèu		 Thiệu
So (소)
Shō
91 86 萬 万 Wàn Wan4 Maan6 Man Bān Màn Vạn
Man (만)
Ban
92 89 錢 钱 Qián Ch'ien2 Cin4 Chin Chee Chî Chhién
Thién		 Tiền
Jeon (전)
Sen
93 嚴 严 Yán Yen2 Jim4 Yim Im Giâm Nghiēm Nghiêm
Eom (엄)
Gen
94 覃 Tán T'an2 Taam *N-rmʔ YemX
Dam (담)
95 95 武 Wǔ Wu3 Mou5 Mo Mou Mú Vũ
Võ		 *maʔ MjuX
Mu (무)
Bu
96 54 戴 Dài Tai4 Daai3 Tai Tè Thài Đái
Đới		 *Cə.tˤək-s TojH
Dae (대)
Tai
Ty, Tee
97 莫 Mò Mo4 Mok6 Mài Mạc *mˤak Mak
Mo (모)
98 72 孔 Kǒng K'ung3 Hung2 Hung Hong4 Khúng Khổng KhuwngX *kʰˤoŋʔ
Kong (공)
Kō
99 嚮
曏		 向 Xiàng Hsiang4 Heung3 Hưởng *qʰaŋ-s
*n̥aŋʔ-s		 XjangH
Hyang (향)
Mukai
100 90 湯 汤 Tāng T'ang1 Tong1 *l̥ˤaŋ Thang
75 康 Kāng Kang1 Hong1 Hong Khng Khong Khang *k-l̥ˤaŋ Khang
Gang (강)
Kō
92 易 Yì I4 Yi6
Yik6		 *lek-s YeH
Yee (이)
94 常 Cháng Ch'ang2 Soeng4 Sheung Seong4 Siông Thường *daŋ Dzyang
Sang (상)
Jō
Sōng, Thōng
96 喬 乔 Qiáo Ch'iao2 Kiu6 *N-kaw Gjew
Kyo (교)
98 賴 赖 Lài Lai4 Lay Laai6 Lai Lay Lōa *rˤat-s LajH
Roe (뢰)

Noe (뇌)
Rai
100 文 Wén Wen2 Man4 Bûn *mən Mjun
Moon (문)
Other surveys
  • 2006 multi-year survey and study conducted by Yuan Yida, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences's Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, using a sample size of 296 million spread across 1,110 counties and cities and recording around 4,100 surnames.
  • 1990: Ji Yuwen Publishing House, based on a sample size of 174,900.
  • 1987 study conducted by Yuan Yida with a sample size of 570,000.
  • 1977 study published by Li Dongming, a Chinese historian, as "Surname" (《姓》) in Dongfang Magazine.

Read more about this topic:  List Of Common Chinese Surnames, Greater China Region